RUKUNGIRI – The Emeritus Bishop of North Kigezi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Patrick Tugume Tusingwire, has proposed that the government designate weekends as the official days for conducting burial ceremonies in Uganda.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The retired bishop made the impassioned plea on Thursday, June 18, 2026, while delivering the homily at the burial ceremony of the late Canon Kosia Turyagyenda, held in Rushasha, Nyakagyeme, Rukungiri District.
Representing the North Kigezi Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Rev. Tusingwire expressed deep concern that many people spend excessive time attending burials during working days, sacrificing both income and time that could be channeled into sustaining their families.
He emphasized that while honoring the dead is culturally and spiritually significant, mechanisms must be established to balance this with the economic realities facing many Ugandan households.
“We are losing valuable working hours to burial ceremonies. This is time that could be used to fend for families and build our communities. We urge Parliament to consider policies that would allow burials to take place on weekends so that people can mourn their loved ones without sacrificing their livelihoods,” Bishop Tusingwire observed.
The Emeritus Bishop further proposed that the government establish accredited communal burial cemeteries in every constituency to address the pressing challenge of land scarcity in densely populated areas.
He stressed that family land should be preserved for farming, commerce, and housing, while communal cemeteries would offer dignified burial grounds and free up land for economic development.
“The small land that families own should be preserved for productive use, farming, commercial enterprises, and housing. Communal cemeteries would provide dignified resting places for our departed while allowing families to maximize their land for economic development,” Bishop Tusingwire added.
The late Canon Kosia Turyagyenda, who passed away on June 13, 2026, at age 73, was remembered as a faithful Lay Canon who served for approximately 35 years.
His life was celebrated for his spiritual devotion and unwavering commitment to family and community development, even as he battled fibrosing interstitial lung disease, a complication linked to a severe COVID-19 cough that left lasting health challenges.
The deceased’s wife, Mrs. Jesca Turyagyenda, expressed profound gratitude to the community for their overwhelming support during this difficult period.
She honored her late husband as a saved, truthful, and disciplined Christian with whom she shared a remarkable 50 years of marriage, adding that despite his deteriorating health, he remained steadfast in faith and served his community until the very end.
Mrs. Turyagyenda testified that her husband worked tirelessly to build a strong family by investing in their children’s education, and they have grown into great people who continue to honor his legacy.
“My husband worked tirelessly to build a strong family. He invested in the education of all our children, and today they have grown into great people who continue to honor his legacy. I am deeply grateful for the love and support we have received from this community,” observed Mrs. Turyagyenda.
Hon. Arthur Atuhwereire Kazoora, MP for Ruhinda South and son-in-law to the late Canon, eulogized him as a close friend and a prayerful, wise mentor who supported his political journey with prayers, encouragement, and financial assistance.
“Canon Turyagyenda supported me through prayers, encouragement, and even financial assistance despite battling his own illness. He was a pillar of strength and wisdom, and I will forever be grateful for his guidance,” MP Kazoora recounted.
He pledged ongoing support for his mother-in-law, Mrs. Jesca Turyagyenda, and urged the children to care for her in her old age, stressing the importance of honoring parents and family ties.
The family earlier confirmed that Canon Turyagyenda succumbed to fibrosing interstitial lung disease, a complication linked to a severe cough suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic that left lasting health challenges.
The legislator also reiterated his push for better elderly healthcare, proposing that essential age-related medications be consistently available in all health facilities across the country.
The burial ceremony drew a significant number of dignitaries, including Members of Parliament and business communities from within Rukungiri and beyond.
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